Introduction: the Theory of Evolution, what it means and why it is important

In early October, scientists announced that they had discovered a virtually complete fossil skeleton of an early hominid called Ardipithecus Ramidus ('Ardi'). The fossil dates to about five and a half million years old. Knowing that evidence from the fossil record and genetic data would put a common ancestor between us and chimpanzees at about seven million years ago, this puts us very close to seeing what that common ancestor would have looked and acted like. It also re-raises a number of important questions: Where do we come from? Why are we here? How do we 'fit in' to the world around us?

In order to discuss this, there are a number of things that I would like to share. The issue of evolution is a very controversial topic and tends to create a lot of heat and derision. I think that this is so because of the inherent implications. If it is the case that human beings are descended from a common ancestor with primates than it immediately calls into question the notion that we are the special creation of a divine being. This apparently has immense implications for ethics, morality, theology and not to mention a sense of purpose and meaning.

This is especially so among those who share a religious paradigm. They feel as though this attacks the veracity of their sacred texts (the creation accounts in Genesis, Surah's of the Qur'an, etc.). Ironically, however, this presupposes a whole host of interpretive choices underlying how one reads these texts. My purpose here is not to undermine these texts outright, or one's particular reading of these texts, but to show that when these passages are put within their broader literary and historical context the question of the purpose of Genesis becomes clearer. My intention, therefore, is to free up one's perspective to give the notion of evolution a fair hearing, and in so doing, hopefully learn more clearly what was the actual intention of biblical writers. Again, we can learn more about both if we let our guards down long enough to listen to one another.

In the end I hope that we will be able to see the inherent beauty in the natural world that evolution inspires. As Darwin stated in the conclusion of his On the Origin of Species:

"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved."

To do this then, I would like to spend the next few days discussing this topic. First, I hope to post a discussion on the literary and historical context of the biblical account of creation and then move on to the actual claims of evolution itself. Again, feel free to post your thoughts and responses as you're moved.

Shea M. Randall